Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-09-21
THE BOYS IN BLUE.
The Ninth Illinois Cavalry Reun-
ion in Rock Island.
The County Veterans Association on
Vandruf's Isiand---CrOckers Bri-
gade at DavenpOrt---This Mornings
MretIngs---yisit 10 the Government
Works.
THE NINTH CAVALRY.

city tins morning, line llrst Delng held AT |
Chicago year ago. The hugle call WAS |
heard as early as sunrise, when the vets
Grams commenced coming in from al | |
parts of the country and registering At the |
Harper hOuse-the headq quarters. The |
surviving members of the gallant regi-
ment who were able to attend the reunion
formed in front of the Hrper house
at O'clock. and headed by Bleuer's
band. proceeded down Second avenue to
the hall of Bearllsley camp, ID, Sons
of Veterans, which had been beau-
tlfully decorated. and was tens
deIed tree for the accumulation OF the
| cavalry during its reunion. About the
room were flags and evergreens and flow
ers, inscriptions etc, the most attract
i've of these being on large banner back
of the presiding officers chair. II read:
| The Young 18th Welcome the Old
OH" Directly in front of the entrance
appeared in white letters on blue back
ground the word Welcome There
we're a little over one hundred of the vet
Grams present at the opening of the re
union.
Col. Brackrtt, president of the associl-
ton, called the meeting to order, and
Rev. G. F. Brayton, of Door Village, In.
| 1
invoked the divine blessing. The min
utes of the last meeting in Chicago,
which was the first reunion of the caval>
~. were read by Secretary Bell, of Jol>
let. and approved.
Treasurer V. Fitzpatrick, of Chica>
90, read his report, showing receipts of
$3.50 80, disbursements, S530S0; bal
ance in treasury, 81 20. The report was
accepted and approved.
Secretary Bell read his report as to Sc
curing and disposing Of the regimenlal
badge and il WAS approved
Corresponding Secretary f A. Daven'
port, OF Chicago, reported three deaths
during the year-Licut u Hitler, Of
Rock Island, ". H Nudge, OF
Lowell, Indiana, and f d. Ball
of Chicago. Mr. Davenport sale
that all the comrades knew and loved
Lieut. Hitler, and admired him 70
his bravery and valor, but the other
were not so well known. He moved tina
a committee be appointed to draft rcsolu
tions of respect to departed comrades
The chair named A r. Mock, J. W
Bracket, ]. o II Spinney, R. Harrington
and IL B Burgh.
Gov. Nance, of Nebraska, 5. D. Gle
land. T. V. Fitzpatrick, R. r. Clifford, +
H. Macarthur, and |. o. H Spinne
were appointed committee on the ne,
place of meeting.
IT. ShowalIer, W. F Crawford, J.
Avery. B. F. Prce, J H. Carpenter, CT
White and Edward OFT were named as
committee to select officers for the eusI
ing year and report tonight,
An adjournment WAS then taken uni
, o'clock this afternoon when the caval
went overto the island by train to be Il
guest, of Col Boyler, and to meet tt
comrades Of Crocker Shr igade wha can
over from Davenport.
SKETCH OF THE NINTH.
The Ninth regiment of cavalry was q
rauized in Chicago, I'll in Sept. 1856
bv Colonel A q Bracket, In Fe
1852. II started for 81 Lous. Mo, then
Ia Pilot Knob and Reeves Station, Nj
where it was attached to the army unC
General Steele From Reeves Station
mar, he'd to .Iacksonport, Ark, where
command remained until joined by t
army CORPS under command of Gene
Curtis While located near Jacksonpo
a number Of skirmishes took place h
tween some Of the companies OF the re:
mrni and portion Of the confedert
forces that were lowering in the neie
hnrhood AT the tint, these sklrmist
wer.. looked upon rs wonderful aflai
hut Two wears later when the regImt
had seen some service and did so
hard fighting, such affairs would not ha
counted for so much, From Jacks6
mort. the regiment accompanied Gf
Curtis' army in its famous march to II
ena. Ark where it arrived in Angu
1862 While stationed at Helena.
tached portions al the regiment "
several times engaged with the enem
In Nov. 1862 one battalion accnmPan
an expedition under Gen. Washburn Il
Mississippi This battalion done 81
excellent service on that tXpt iit"n i
Gen. Washburn took fancy to
rro,mtni, and in short time later wi
he was promoted and transferred
Tennessee. he took the Ninth with hH
Memphis About this time the regim
received It's first supply OF good hrear
the Colts revolving rifle, and from
time dates it, record for efficiency IN
field. The Ninth was one of the hest
nnnized and best drilled regiments
was mustered into the United States
vice. but not until the men were supp
n with good firearms did it make its re
80 tation as a good fighting regiment LA
after the return of the regiment /
veteran furlough. the Colts revol'
rifles were exchanged for II still h
tirearm. the Spencer rifle.
. The regiment was engaged with
-. enemy nj CalIwater. Miss, at Gren
ut Salem Mt Wyatt, Miss. and at
bury aud Moscow. Tenn 10 the Ii
engagement the Ninth took a prom
part. In February, 1864, the reglr
accompanied the expedition orgat
under Gen. Sooy Smith, which VI
- have co operated with Gen, Shern
army. then at Meridian, Miss. As Is
known. this expedition was failur
failed to effect junction with Sher
and Smith, after penetrating the enc
country ms far a. West Point, Miss
dered a retreat AT West Point the
ment took conspicuous part, but 1t
On the night of the first days retreat
the grand old Ninth covered itself
II glory, when it drew the enemy I'M
III ambuscade and punished him so sew
that he did not attack us again that I
Soon after this, in March, 1864, the
ment re-enlisted and came north OF
Gu eran furlough, once more to enjoy II
ciety of wives. sweethearts- parents
children. April eth. the regimen
- turned to Memphis Tenn. While &
- ag.E h..